![]() The higher number, or systolic blood pressure, is measured as your heart pumps blood into your arteries.Measuring blood pressureīlood pressure is measured as millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)-a holdover from the traditional mercury gauges used by the medical industry-and has two components: In many cases, simple lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on your numbers and help protect both your heart and brain health. While hypertension is very common, the good news is that it’s also very easy to rectify. In fact, nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Since new guidelines released in 2017 lowered the threshold for what should be considered high blood pressure, more and more of us find ourselves at risk. Changing your lifestyle to address high blood pressure can help to improve your mental health-and vice versa. High blood pressure and common mental health problems can often be attributed, at least in part, to the same unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as overwhelming stress, poor diet, and a lack of exercise.Even isolating yourself from family and friends-a common symptom of depression and anxiety-can push your blood pressure higher and damage your cardiovascular health.Self-medicating your mood with alcohol, nicotine, junk food, or recreational drugs can also elevate your blood pressure.Stress can increase the body’s production of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which in turn raises blood pressure. ![]() And just as blood pressure may have an impact your mood, the reverse can also be true: Being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease can also take an emotional toll, affecting your outlook and making you more susceptible to anxiety and depression. ![]() High blood pressure (or “hypertension”) has been shown to damage the tiny blood vessels in the parts of your brain responsible for cognition and memory, greatly increasing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. If blood doesn’t flow easily, it can harm your arteries as well as vital organs such as the kidneys, eyes, and brain. Since all parts of your body rely on circulation, though, it’s not just your heart that high blood pressure can impact. The higher the number, the harder your heart is having to work to pump blood around your body and the more likely it is that damage is being done to the heart muscle. High blood pressure is rightly known as “the silent killer.” It often carries no symptoms or warning signs but can drastically increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. There’s a reason why your blood pressure is taken every time you visit a doctor’s office or hospital, regardless of the complaint that brought you there. Blood pressure and the heart-head connection
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |